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Elden Ring Smithing Stone Progression and Locations
Match Smithing Stone tiers 1–8 to weapon levels, find stones by region and tunnel, and unlock renewable purchases with bell bearings.
Answer first
Quick Answer
Standard weapons need 12 stones of each tier—2, then 4, then 6—to gain three levels per tier. Smithing Stone [1] covers +1 to +3, [2] covers +4 to +6, and so on through [8] for +22 to +24; one Ancient Dragon Smithing Stone completes +25. Tunnels and bell bearings are the reliable progression path.
On This Page
Key Takeaways
- One strong structured route covers tiers [1]–[8]; separate near-duplicate pages are unnecessary.
- Every standard tier requires 2 stones for the first rank, 4 for the second, and 6 for the third: 12 total.
- Mine galleries and their wall deposits are the most readable early source. Later bell bearings make tiers [1]–[8] purchasable.
- Ancient Dragon Smithing Stones are the limited final material and are not made unlimited by a bell bearing.
Tier table
| Material | Weapon ranks | Broad progression area |
|---|---|---|
| Smithing Stone [1] | +1 to +3 | Limgrave and Weeping Peninsula |
| Smithing Stone [2] | +4 to +6 | Limgrave/Liurnia transition |
| Smithing Stone [3] | +7 to +9 | Liurnia and early underground routes |
| Smithing Stone [4] | +10 to +12 | Liurnia, Caelid, and Altus approaches |
| Smithing Stone [5] | +13 to +15 | Altus Plateau and Nokron/Nokstella progression |
| Smithing Stone [6] | +16 to +18 | Altus, Mt. Gelmir, and Leyndell-era areas |
| Smithing Stone [7] | +19 to +21 | Mountaintops and late underground areas |
| Smithing Stone [8] | +22 to +24 | Consecrated Snowfield and late-game areas |
| Ancient Dragon Smithing Stone | +25 | Limited late-game rewards and pickups |
The area column is a route guide, not a claim that stones occur only there.
Efficient progression route
- Clear Limgrave Tunnels for wall deposits and early pickups.
- Use the Weeping Peninsula and Liurnia tunnels when the next tier becomes scarce.
- Give Smithing-Stone Miner's Bell Bearings to the Twin Maiden Husks at Roundtable Hold; this turns earlier tiers into a rune cost instead of a finite exploration resource.
- Buy only enough stones to bring a tested weapon to the needed breakpoint.
- Keep one Ancient Dragon stone unspent until the final build is settled.
Bell Bearing [1] unlocks Stones [1] and [2], [2] unlocks [3] and [4], [3] unlocks [5] and [6], and [4] unlocks [7] and [8].
Common Mistakes
- Looking for eight separate farming routes instead of advancing to the matching tunnel or bell bearing.
- Counting one stone per rank; standard weapons need 2/4/6 within each tier.
- Buying stones for a weapon that actually requests Somber materials.
- Assuming the final Ancient Dragon stone becomes unlimited.
- Over-upgrading a backup while the main weapon falls behind the current region.
Troubleshooting
Why can’t I buy a stone after finding its bell bearing?
The bearing must be offered to the Twin Maiden Husks. Check their bell-bearing shop after handing it over; finding or carrying the item alone does not expand stock.
Why does the next upgrade request a different number?
A numbered stone covers three ranks. After the third rank in that band, the next reinforcement correctly asks for the next stone tier.
FAQ
How many stones take a standard weapon to +24?
Twelve of each tier [1] through [8], or 96 numbered stones in total.
Can enemies drop stones?
Some do, but a tunnel-and-bell-bearing route is more dependable than unverified drop-rate farming.
Is +25 always worth the final stone?
It improves the weapon, but the material is limited. Use it on a weapon you expect to keep rather than treating it as routine progression.
Version Scope
Verified for the base game through Patch 1.17. Shadow of the Erdtree has additional sources, but does not change the standard +25 track.
Sources
See the detailed bell bearing guide or return to the Elden Ring hub.
Requirements
- Use the game version named in this guide
- Check the stated prerequisite before spending limited resources
Steps
- 1
Start with the Quick Answer
Standard weapons need 12 stones of each tier—2, then 4, then 6—to gain three levels per tier. Smithing Stone [1] covers +1 to +3, [2] covers +4 to +6, and so on through [8] for +22 to +24; one Ancient Dragon Smithing Stone completes +25. Tunnels and bell bearings are the reliable progression path.
- 2
Follow the verified route
Use the ordered steps and tables in the visible guide.
Common Mistakes
- Using an older-version route
- Skipping the prerequisite named in the guide
How this answer was checked
Sources & Verification
- Bandai Namco early-game tipsofficial
- Elden Ring Wiki Smithing Stonescommunity source
More verified answers
Related Guides
Elden Ring Somber Smithing Stone Locations and Upgrade Guide
Special armaments use one Somber Smithing Stone matching each rank from [1] for +1 through [9] for +9, then one Somber Ancient Dragon Smithing Stone for +10. Smithing Master Iji sells early ranks, tunnels and scarabs provide pickups, and Somberstone Miner’s Bell Bearings make ranks 1–9 renewable at Roundtable Hold.
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